With the National League MVP race in full swing, Shohei Ohtani is doing what he usually does this time of year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star clubbed his 40th homer of the year on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, putting his team up 3-0 in a clash of first-place teams. There aren’t many players who can hit a home run like this one, 417 feet to dead center field:
It’s Ohtani’s third straight 40-homer season, making him the first player to accomplish that kind of streak since Khris Davis did it with the Oakland Athletics in 2016-18. It’s become a rare feat, with even mashers like Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber falling just short.
Ohtani is doing this while coming back as a pitcher. He’s been slowly ramping up on an MLB mound since June, progressing from single-inning starts to four innings in his most recent appearance. He’s been highly effective in that abbreviated action, with a 2.37 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 innings across eight starts.
Even 25 punchouts keeps Ohtani in a class of his own, as Babe Ruth never posted 40 homers as a hitter and 25 strikeouts as a pitcher in a single season, something Ohtani has now done three times.
That pitching performance could be what swings a highly competitive MVP race, as Ohtani is facing challenges from Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has been great on both sides of the ball, and Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, the only NL player with more homers than Ohtani, with 41.
The Dodgers also got what they wanted to see from starting pitcher Blake Snell in his second start since returning from the injured list (shoulder inflammation). Snell struck out 10 Blue Jays in five shutout innings, allowing only three hits.
Both Ohtani and Snell were two of the best players in baseball in the second half of last season. The Dodgers might need a repeat performance from each to stay ahead in a competitive NL West, where the San Diego Padres entered Saturday only three games back for first place.
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